Reviews by Friends of gfd098

this2shallpass19 says "I am loving the flavors in these Kahlua White Russians!" about Kahlua White Russian Pre-Mixed Cocktails 4-pack

this2shallpass19 — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 03:46:02 GMT

The other day, I was walking down the alcohol aisle at my local grocery store and was keeping my eye out for something new. My husband and I drink a lot of wine, champagne and vodka-based drinks, but I was in the mood for something I haven't tried before. I saw the Kahlua White Russian Pre-Mixed tails 4-Pack for only $4.99 and decided to buy them because I've never had Kahlua, and for that price, it wouldn't be the end of the world if I didn't like them.

Each bottle in the 4-pack is 200ml, so all four of them approximately equal a little more than a bottle of wine. They are made with Kahlua Liqueur, vodka and milk. Each bottle is a perfect amount to serve over ice in a small old-fashioned glass. They are 5% alcohol and 10 proof.

I'm usually not a fan of liqueurs, so I'm surprised I like these. I like that they're not too sweet and don't have a strong alcohol taste. They taste kind of like coffee with cream, sugar and a little something extra. Their flavor is definitely...

...

this2shallpass19 says "Belgian Waffles is my favorite Philosophy scent yet!" about Philosophy Belgian Waffles 3-in-1

this2shallpass19 — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 18:25:14 GMT

I have tried several Philosophy 3-in-1 Shower Gel scents including: Double Rich Hot Cocoa and Red Velvet Cake. By far, my newest favorite is the one my mom got me for Christmas: Philosophy Belgian Waffles 3-in-1 Shower Gel. The scent is heavenly and it feels luxurious!

Philosophy 3-in-1 Shower Gels are designed to be a shampoo, shower gel and bubble bath, all in one bottle. I love them as shower gels, but I have been a little disappointed in them as bubble baths, and my friend recently told me why. Philosophy has Ultra Rich and High Foaming. All of the 3-in-1 products that I've used have been the Ultra Rich variety, so they are not as bubbly as the High Foaming, but they are extra velvety and satiny feeling on the skin.

Philosophy Belgian Waffles 3-in-1 Shower Gel is also an Ultra Rich variety, but the fabulous scent makes up for the lack of long-lasting bubbles. It smells so good! It resembles the scent of an ice cream waffle cone, but richer. The scent is hard to describe,...

...

Eyerater says "Tarpon Lodge - Worth the drive" about Tarpon Lodge - Pineland, FL

Eyerater — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 21:12:59 GMT

The term "off-the-beaten-path" could have been created just for Tarpon Lodge. It's about as far as you can get out on Southwest Florida's Pine Island, which is one of those places no one goes to unless they want to be there. No one is "passing through."

It has a colorful history, however, once as the site of a sanitarium, then a rehab center. There are motel-type rooms and a cottage and boathouse accommodation. All refurbished and updated, and adjacent to the restaurant. We have never stayed in the accommodations. But I could easily be tempted to return and do just that.

We selected Tarpon Lodge, about an hour's drive from our south Fort Myers home, for Christmas Day dinner. If you have read earlier restaurant reviews from me, you may remember that dinner for my wife and me usually takes place in the afternoon. It's not the draw of early-bird specials, although I have yet to turn down 2-drinks-for-the-price-of-one.

No we dine at that hour because we learned that early dining leads to eating...

...

this2shallpass19 says "My son LOVES me to read Mommy's Little Boy to him!" about Mommy's Little Boy

this2shallpass19 — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 18:48:16 GMT

When I was pregnant, I started collecting books for the boy I knew I was going to have. By the time he was one year old, he was really into reading, so his collection of books was quite large. Besides his animal books which are his favorite, his other most requested read was for Mommy's Little Boy. A book about a little boy questioning whether he will always be his mother's "little boy", even if he gets older.

The book shows the little boy, "Robbie", helping his mom with things like cooking in the kitchen, setting the table for dinner and taking the dog for a walk. It also shows Mommy playing in the park with Robbie and getting ice cream.

One of the reasons why my son loves the book, Mommy's Little Boy, is because the mommy and Robbie take their dog with them everywhere they go. My son loves to point out the dog on each page!

The story is a cute one, with Robbie always asking his mommy questions like, "Will I be your little boy even if I grow bigger than you?", "Even if...

...

this2shallpass19 says "Redken Outshine 01 smoothes frizz and makes hair shiny!" about Redken Outshine 01 Anti-Frizz Polishing Milk

this2shallpass19 — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 19:33:27 GMT

I don't have a lot of frizz, but I do get a lot of fly-aways when I flat iron my hair and wear it down. I usually wear a ponytail, so I don't have to worry about it very often, but when I do wear my hair down, I want it to look smooth and shiny, and that's what Redken Outshine 01 Anti-Frizz Polishing Milk does for the most part.

The consistency of this product is a little thicker than lotion. The directions say you can apply it to either dry or damp hair, but I only use it on my dry hair. I'll blow dry my hair, then flat iron it, then apply Redken Outshine 01 Anti-Frizz Polishing Milk to smooth things out. I squirt a small amount in my hands and after rubbing them together, I glide my hands over my hair very lightly. The end result is shiny, smooth hair that isn't weighed down at all. This polishing milk, does fight the frizz, but it doesn't totally tame all my fly-aways, probably because this formula is really light.

Some styling products have the tendency to leave my hair...

...

this2shallpass19 says "Cattlemen's is my absolute favorite BBQ sauce!" about Cattlemen's Classic Barbecue Sauce

this2shallpass19 — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 17:23:08 GMT

Something I make for a dinner a lot is BBQ beef sandwiches. I cook a large roast in a crock-pot for hours, then shred it and pour BBQ sauce all over it. Over the years, I have tried many BBQ sauces including one I like quite well, KC Masterpiece Original Barbecue Sauce, but my absolute favorite is still Cattlemen's Classic Barbecue Sauce.

The label on the back of the bottle says: "Year after year, Cattlemen's BBQ Sauce has been the #1 choice of professional chefs and the secret behind award winning BBQ at the World Championship Barbecue contest at Memphis in May."

Cattlemen's makes several varieties of barbecue sauce, but my favorite is "classic". I haven't tried all their flavors, but "classic" is so perfect, I can't imagine anything else being better. It has the perfect blend of seasoning and spices. It's a little spicy, a little tangy, a little hickory, not too sweet and totally perfect. There's definitely a little zip in it, perhaps from mustard bran. It also has the perfect...

...

Matt says "The Four Seasons in Costa Rica is serene and beautiful" about Four Seasons Costa Rica

Matt — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 03:20:12 GMT

Our extended family of 14 people recently went to the Four Seasons in Costa Rica over the Thanksgiving holiday. We had a fantastic time. I would highly recommend this Four Seasons to anyone looking for a fun and adventurous luxury resort.

The Setting
The Four Seasons Costa Rica is set at the end of a Peninsula about an hours drive away from the Liberia airport. The best word to describe the surrounding area is lush and green. The first day we got there is was really hot and muggy but it quickly got better. But make not mistake it is hot in Costa Rica in November. The lobby of the hotel is pure Four Seasons. Modern, clean, sleek and calming. Immediately on the other side of the lobby there are the restaurants and pools. To the right and left there is an ocean beach on one side of the resort and a very short three minute walk up a small hill and around the pool, there is a beach on the bay. We went swimming on both sides with the kids. The waves are not overly strong. ...

...

this2shallpass19 says "These tabs clean the dishes, but that's not all they do!" about Seventh Generation Automatic Dishwasher Detergent Concentrated Pacs

this2shallpass19 — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 00:36:00 GMT

I'm always trying to find products that are both eco-friendly and effective. It seems like most eco-friendly cleaning products are decent, but missing something, and that also goes for Seventh Generation Automatic Dishwasher Detergent Concentrated Pacs. Yes, it is eco-friendly, but it doesn't provide the same great results I'm used to with traditional dish-washing tabs.

The great things about these dish-washing pacs are:

Chlorine-free
Phosphate-free
Biodegradable
Not tested on animals

The Seventh Generation Automatic Dishwasher Detergent Concentrated Pacs look very similar to traditional dishwashing packs that contain a pre-measured amount of detergent in a clear, plastic wrap. Just pop one in your dishwasher, and that's it. One great thing I would like to note is that the box states that Seventh Generation donates 10% of their profits to "organizations working for positive change".

My Experience

After using half of the box, I have had similar results with each load of dishes:...

...

Matt says "The Ritz Carlton Maui is near perfect for families" about Ritz Carlton Maui - Kapalua, HI

Matt — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 23:35:29 GMT

I am writing this review from the porch of our 1 bedroom unit at the Ritz Carlton Maui. Although I will go into more detail later in the review, let me lead by saying we have been here for 7 days and the time has flown by. The weather has been near perfect, the natural beauty of Maui breathtaking and the grounds of the hotel have been great for three boys who love to run around. Although I will be critical of the Ritz at times during this review, all in all we have had an amazing vacation that compared favorably to many other five star resorts we have stayed at.

Basis of comparison
As a point of comparison we recently stayed at the Four Seasons Costa Rica and are regulars at Esperanza in Los Cabos. I would consider the Ritz Carlton to be a peer hotel of these other five star beach resorts.

My wife and I first stayed at the Ritz Carlton Maui fifteen years ago when it first opened. We fell in love with it then, and then last year when we were staying in a house in nearby Kanapali...

...

Matt says "The Lenovo T500 Review - so far so good!" about Lenovo ThinkPad T500 (20564RU) PC Notebook

Matt — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 23:12:47 GMT

This is my first impressions review of a Lenovo T500 laptop I started using a few days ago. I will add to the review as I gain more experience with the machine.

First, a bit of background. I am a demanding laptop user. I rely very heavily on my laptop for both constant e-mail web surfing, and office applications such as Word, Excel and Powerpoint. I am not a gamer and don't care that much about the high end graphics features of some gaming laptops. My priorities are: a) a long battery life, b) a nice screen, c) fast and worry free and d) a nice solid well built feel. I use a computer 12 hours a day so it I have no problem paying a premium.

For the last year or so I have used a Dell XPS 1330. It performs like a champ and I am a big fan. However, Dell recently discontinued the XPS in favor of their Studio line but I was still interested in upgrading to Windows 7. My reasons for wanting to upgrade were: a) I had read that the Lenovo in particular had very fast boot up and...

...

this2shallpass19 says "This orange scented cleanser cleans my face, without drying!" about Murad Essential-C Cleanser

this2shallpass19 — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:28:08 GMT

At one of my recent online orders to Sephora, I was given a free trial-size sampler of the Murad Essential-C skin care line. The samples were actually mini products, and not foil wrappers, so they were definitely generous samples.

The Murad Essential-C Cleanser is designed to:

Neutralizes environmental aggressors
Restore moisture
Remove impurities
Bind moisture to skin

My Experience

This cleanser smells nice, like orange candy. There are small, orange balls in the clear cleanser that probably exfoliate a little bit. A little bit of this cleanser goes a long way. After using, my face feels nice and soft, and not dried out at all. In fact, I think it's claim to "bind moisture to skin" is accurate, because my face feels more moisturized after using than before.

Although Murad Essential-C Cleanser contains some nice ingredients, it also contains methylparaben, which I avoid in all the products that I buy. I do have to say that while I do like the way this product cleans my face...

...

this2shallpass19 says "This organic cereal is super crunchy and loaded with berries!" about Kashi Strawberry Fields

this2shallpass19 — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 18:13:56 GMT

Whenever possible, I try to incorporate natural and organic foods in my diet. I'm not really a cereal eater, but the picture on the box of Kashi Strawberry Fields Cereal lured me in. It is organic, the flakes looked large and crunchy, and I like the fact that it has real berries too.

I love that this cereal is not only organic, but also very healthy. It has no fat, and only 120 calories per one cup serving. The only nutritional downfall is the fact that it contains only 1g of fiber per serving.

The flakes are big and extremely crunchy. In fact, they might be too crunchy for some people, but I like cereals that don't get soggy quickly, and these flakes certainly didn't get soggy. By the time I was eating my last couple bites, the flakes had sightly softened, but nowhere near soggy. In addition to crunchy, rice and wheat flakes, this cereral also has an abundance of whole raspberries and sliced strawberries.

Although this cereal tasted good, I still felt it was missing...

...

this2shallpass19 says "This delicious snack tray is perfect for holidays!" about Hormel - Supreme Party Tray

this2shallpass19 — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 16:30:07 GMT

I hosted Christmas dinner at my house this year, so I wanted to get a snack platter that would not only appeal to different people, but also have enough food to go around. I scored when I found the Hormel Supreme Party Tray at the commissary. It was only $10 and it has food that everyone loves on it, and plenty of it.

I love snacking on meat and cheese with my wine, so I was really excited to try this tray. I was even more excited when everything turned out to be delicious. What makes this delicious snack tray so great, is the variety of foods on it. The Hormel Supreme Party Tray includes the following:

Hormel® Hard Salami
Hormel® Genoa Salami
Peloponnese® Country Pitted Olive Mix
Sargento® Sliced Colby Jack Cheese
Sargento® Sliced Pepper Jack Cheese
Keebler® Town House Crackers

The portions of cheese and meat are generous and you get two full rolls of crackers, so this tray really is a good amount of food. In fact, I had six people at my house on Christmas, and today...

...

this2shallpass19 says "Finally, a shape sorter that is fun AND challenging!" about Battat Shape Sorter House

this2shallpass19 — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 20:27:56 GMT

My son has played with several shape sorters, just to be bored quickly or not challenged enough. Since he does enjoy playing with them, I wanted to find him one that would capture his attention and entertain him, and I did, the Battat Shape Sorter House. This shape sorter is both fun and challenging because it uses colors, shapes and keys to operate.

This shape sorter is much larger than other shape sorters I've seen. It is a "house" in the sense that it has several doors on the sides and a key is required to open the doors. There are several ways to play with the Battat Shape Sorter House. You can drop shapes into the slots on the top, push shapes through the doors on the side, or open the doors with the keys. Everything is color coordinated. Each color has two shapes, one shape for the top, and one shape for the door. The shapes from both the top, and the doors all fall into their own compartment, so when you open the door with a key, you can grab the shapes. To open...

...

this2shallpass19 says "I will never go back to a regular basting brush again!" about Gourmet Trends Brush Genie Silicone Basting and Pastry Brushes

this2shallpass19 — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 17:57:18 GMT

When I walk into a Bed Bath & Beyond store, I am in kitchen gadget heaven. I spend most of my time in that store in the kitchen section, especially looking at their utensils and cool gadgets. My latest find from there is the Gourmet Trends Brush Genie Silicone Basting and Pastry Brushes. Apparently, this product used to be a As-Seen-On-TV product. I can't remember exactly, but I want to say I paid between $6-9 for a two-pack of brushes.

Before I bought these brushes, I used to use the traditional basting brush that has a coarse type of hair or bristles on it. They were a pain to clean, so I never really used them. Now that I have my dishwasher-safe Gourmet Trends Brush Genie Silicone Basting and Pastry Brushes, I can just throw them in the dishwasher when they're dirty, and they come out brand-new again.

I'm not a very good baker, so I don't use these for pastry, but they are excellent for applying BBQ sauce to ribs, chicken or whatever meat I want to use. I love how the...

...

this2shallpass19 says "Bigelow's Mint Medley is a burst of mint in your mouth!" about Bigelow - Mint Medley Herb Tea

this2shallpass19 — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 16:37:43 GMT

Since mint or fruit flavored teas are my favorite, I have tried a lot of different brands and flavors. I have to say that Bigelow Mint Medley Herb Tea is by far the strongest mint flavor I have yet to find - and that's a good thing!

The first time I made this tea, I was blown away with the first sip, it's that minty. It's so minty, that after I inhale a breath after taking a sip of this tea, my mouth feels cool like it does after brushing your teeth, not exactly that strong, but similar. Unlike some mint teas, this tea has no sweetness to it, just a strong mint flavor.

Ingredients: peppermint leaves, spearmint leaves, rose hips, lemon peel, hibiscus.

After trying several Bigelow teas now, I have come to realize that they are the strongest flavored teas I have tried. I Love Lemon was a very tart, lemon flavored tea, and Pomegranate Pizzazz, which is one of my favorite teas now, is a tea made with fruit juice and is bursting with fruit flavor.

This refreshing tea is made with...

...

this2shallpass19 says "This Yves Rocher mascara is nothing special!" about Yves Rocher Extra-Volume Mascara

this2shallpass19 — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 22:36:31 GMT

This is the third Yves Rocher product that I have tried from my order, and I have to say that I haven't been impressed with anything I bought. Nothing is high-quality about their products, and their Extra-Volume Mascara is no exception.

The Yves Rocher website states that this mascara is supposed to:

Separate and smooth lashes
Thicken and add volume
Have the natural benefit of cellulose

My Experience

As I pulled the wand out of the tube, I thought the brush looked promising. The brush is very thick with different length bristles; some short, and some long. I was thinking to myself, this might actually be a good mascara. Um, not really. When you coat your lashes with this mascara, it feels as if it is 8 months old. It goes on like glue and once you apply a coat, it dries almost immediately, preventing you from adding a second coat because then it gets even clumpier.

On a positive note, I do like several things about this mascara. I like how it darkens your lashes, separates...

...

this2shallpass19 says "Great way to incorporate green veggies in my toddler's diet!" about Happy Baby Organic Puffs - Greens Puffs

this2shallpass19 — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 15:50:02 GMT

When my son was a baby, I used to buy him the Gerber Graduates Fruit & Vegetable Puffs. He is now almost two, and I no longer need those puffs, but he has become an extremely picky eater. He won't eat vegetables no matter what, even if I hide them in his food. Short of pureeing vegetables, I have tried everything. That's where Happy Baby Organic Puffs - Greens Puffs come in handy. These are the traditional "puffs" that he used to love, but the Greens flavor is made with nutritious green vegetables. I got them at Target where they also had other flavors.

I love these puffs because not only are they organic, but they are made with nutritious green vegetables and they are also lower in sugar than the Gerber Graduates Puffs I used to buy. In fact, the label says that they contain half the sugar of the Gerber and Beech-Nut puffs.

Happy Baby Organic Puffs - Greens Puffs are made with great ingredients including: organic rice, organic oats, organic wheat, organic apple juice, organic...

...

Matt says "Last Man Standing is enjoyable but formulaic thriller" about David Baldacci - Last Man Standing

Matt — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 07:14:14 GMT

Last Man Standing is a formulaic thriller that was decidedly easy to read that and was enjoyable but it did not rise to the level of memorable or distinguished for what it was. That said, I am not a regular reader of this genre of fiction, but I was generally underwhelmed with the quality of writing in David Baldacci.

I found the plot to be both predictable and ridiculous which frankly is not such a good combination. On one hand I knew what was coming next, on the other hand the string of coincidences stretched the thin line of believability so much that the end of the book just felt like he was tying up a whole mess of loose ends.

Bottom line? A good very light vacation read but you can do better.

...

this2shallpass19 says "The Kensington Jacket is the softest, most comfy jacket ever!" about Avalanche Women's Kensington Jacket

this2shallpass19 — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 21:04:39 GMT

My mom bought me an Avalanche fleece jacket a couple years ago and I loved it so much, she bought me another one recently. My newest jacket is an Avalanche Women's Kensington Jacket. Like my other Avalanche jacket, this is the softest article of clothing I own. It is super warm too, but you'd never guess after you felt how light it is.

What makes this jacket so warm is the second layer that Avalanche calls a "thermal layer". When you look at and touch the jacket, it is only one layer, so the second layer must be hiding inside the first. This jacket is made out of 100% polyester body and lining. It is a fleece that feels like one of those really soft blankets or throws that you cuddle up on the couch with. It has two zippered pockets and a raised neck to keep the wind out.

According to Avalanche, this jacket has/is the following:

Highly breathable; allows moisture to vapor and escape
Dries quickly to minimize heat loss
Machine washable
Lightweight, but still provides warmth...

...